Grease Interceptor (DEP) — New York City
NYC DEP requires food service establishments to install and maintain a properly sized grease interceptor, installed by a licensed plumber and filed with DOB/DEP.
Overview
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) requires food service establishments that discharge grease to install and maintain a properly sized grease interceptor, installed by a Licensed Master Plumber and filed with DOB/DEP (Rules of the City of New York Title 15 §19-11).
- Clean before the grease layer reaches 25% of capacity (commonly every 1–3 months)
- Food waste disposers (garbage grinders) are not allowed in NYC commercial kitchens
- Waste grease must be removed by a BIC-licensed (Business Integrity Commission) hauler; keep manifests at least a year
Penalties run from roughly $1,000 to $10,000+ per violation, and DEP can restrict sewer connection for repeat non-compliance.
What SpoonSeal tracks
The document(s) you upload for this requirement, with automatic renewal/expiration tracking (Current, Due Soon, Expired). Where the city publishes health-inspection results (e.g., NYC and Chicago), SpoonSeal syncs them automatically; elsewhere they can be added manually.
Stay ahead of this requirement
SpoonSeal stores your documents, tracks expirations, and reminds you before anything lapses — so you are always inspection-ready.
Get started free →This guide is informational and not legal advice. Always confirm current requirements with the official agency linked above.